1: In the beginning
Authors note: Welcome to Hearts and Oasis and thank you for clicking the book. Here are a few things I would want you to know.
★The start of the book is slow, but it would soon build up as we progress.
★Oasis is a fictional alternate universe to earth. The beings refer to themselves as humans as well as Oasisan.
★Magic is the order of the day.
With that said, carry on with your reading.
Xoxo
"And remember, no matter how bad the truth sounds, is better than a hundred beautiful lies." I say before my timer goes off signifying that my 2 hour lecture is over and I round up the class.
"Ensure to study your course material, handout and books for next week exam, my question will be coming from there. Have a nice weekend you all."
The students stand up and get their books while others reach for their bags and others their PC. I watch as the class dismiss and I stare at the student holding an unsatisfied look than they did their last class and it doesn't take a genius to know no one is ready for the upcoming exams and I wish there was a way that I could make the student more prepared but there isn't. Nothing in life is easy.
I set my bags together once all the students are out of the class and I proceed to leave as well. As I make it to my black, Toyota camery car in the parking lot, I fetch out my key in my bag and move to open it when I hear my name being called.
"Professor Adaji!" Yemi a student in his freshman year calls out, running towards me. He's wearing a brown hoodie and a black jean and he's hanging a bag on his shoulder and although already out of the class, I think he's still holding a pencil in his hand along with a cardboard paper.
I wonder what I may have forgotten in the class that he's hoping to return, but as I do my mental calculation, I realise that I did not forget anything and that make me even more puzzled. Nevertheless I stand still and await his coming.
"Professor Adaji," he says once he gets to me again, but doesn't say anything more as he stops to catch his breath for a moment.
"What happened Yemi, why are you running." I asks, a little taken back with his act.
"I did a few research and finding and I wanted to share with you." He says, taking heavy breathes with every word he utters.
I give him a little sympathetic look, "Classes are over you shouldn't have bothered and you could have easily shown it to me tomorrow."
"It can't wait professor, tomorrow might be too late."
My brows pull together a little confused, "I don't understand what you mean too late?"
"I was looking and doing a little findings of my own. A few weeks ago I was doing a research on alternate universe that might really exist but are being taught and considered as myth..."
I raise my hand and cut him off, "Our focus on last weeks class was myths and other planet, not alternate universe Yemi," I point out to him, not so sure I should be the one he should be coming to with this discovery.
He nods, but I'm not sure he understands my point. "I know that Miss Adaji, but I was doing a little research and I came across the books and study of alternate universe if you just give me a little moment I could actually show it to you." he said looking up at me with big, hopeful brown eyes.
I sigh and rub my forehead knowing one way or the other I'm going to regret this. "Okay, tell me about this alternate universe, you have 5 minutes." I tell him looking at my wrist watch as a cue for him to speak.
"Okay remember the last class we had you talked about cultural myth in which we explain some of the thing some cultures in the past believed in; which includes the believe in existence of alternate universe. What if there is really an alternate universe? What if those beliefs weren't built on a lie? I've have been doing a little research and I found out that there is a possibility that an alternate universe could exist."
I don't mean to cut him off, but that's what I end up doing, "Yemi you need to listen, the course I take is mythology which is a study and interpretation of often sacred tales or fables of a culture known as myths, not about the existence of alternate universe. I can't help you with anything outside my line of study."
"If you would just take a look at this" he says with deep conviction in his voice and he reaches into his bag and pulls out two books dropping them on the bonnet of my car and the he brings out a bunch of pieces of A4 paper showing drawing and probably research he has done on his own before unwrapping the cardboard paper and showing some drawings on it. "Miss Adaji, in our last class we talked about our cultural myth and I've been doing all the research and reading and I discovered that a particular cultural myth it's not really a myth but a reality that has been convert better still transform into a myth to protect the Earth, or in my words keep us blinded from the truth."
"I've been following Doctor Martin on his book series on Oasis, it was based on the alternate universe Oasis and you made mention of it in our last week cultural myth and folklore. A belief in the existence of another passage on earth that enables us to travel to alternate universe and I think that this is not a fable or just a story I think that it is in existence, which is insane because it is much larger than what we think it is Professor."
I take a further look at it and my eyes catches the name Oasis circled the cardboard paper. Indeed we have talked about Oasis in our last class as one of the cultural myth passed down through generations which is about the existence of alternate universe not outside of earth, but rather within our Earth and from what Yemi is showing me, he believes that Oasis is not just a fable or myth as we make it out to be, it could be real.
Overwhelmed by it all I raise my hands up in surrender and step back,
"Listen Yemi, the reason it is considered myth is because they are not real, they are just stories, there is no such place as Oasis where men are born with gift and live as gods. Dr Martin Oasis was based on pure fiction."
"Dr Martin never called it fiction till his death, rather revelations and I know we have been told about Oasis and we've considered it a myth, but that's not it, Oasis is real and if there it a probability of it being discovered, would wouldn't you want to know?"
I know I've never been one to dash down someone dream but I cannot accept something that I do not believe in as true. “No I wouldn't because they are not real and it's fine if you do, but I can't help you more than this. "
His eyes drops and I know that I just crushed his hopes and this is going to hunt me for a long time, "It's okay that you do not believe, but I'm going to keep researching. Thank you for the five minutes." he says and puts his books back into his bag before hanging it on his shoulder and walking away.
I walk into the house with my grocery bag in my hand, I had stop by the supermarket to get a refill of some of the provisions needed in the house since father is still in recovery from his last mild stroke. I open the freezer and place to the milk the box of juice inside and proceed to keep the ice creams as well as the eggs in the freezer and once I'm done I close the freezer.
"Welcome home dear, how was your day," my mum ask as she enters into the kitchen. She must have heard me open the door even though my goal was to come in undetected so I wouldn't disturb either of them.
I turned to her and heave a deep breath; it's been a very hectic day and I rest myself against the freezer and laying my head against it
"How is Dad doing?" I asked although I long for only positive news.
She smiles and I can tell her happiness is genuine and it warms my heart because we been through hell in the last few weeks we are slowly picking up the pieces. "He is slowly recovering, in no time he should be back to his real self."
"Oh that's good to hear."
"You look tired maybe you should go shower while I prepare something for you to eat, how does that sound?"
"Alright Mom, I'll do that. Thank you."
"You are welcome child, but really I should be the one thanking you you've been so understanding and helpful throughout this trying time."
I shake my head, my view completely contrary to hers. "I owe it to both of you for who I am today it is the least I could do."
I've been part of this family since I was seven years old. I lost my parents when I was three years old in a house fire and the orphanage home took me in until the couple Samuel and Simi Adaji adopted me. Although they already had a son of their own they made me feel part of the family and feel love and they sent me to school and then university seeing me through with their support. After college I moved to live on my own, but a few month ago I moved back home after dad suffered a stroke at his place of work and had to be taken. Mom still had to work to be able to afford his treatment so we both had to care for him since Sean my kid brother is at the university in South Africa and not at home. So we both took turns in taking care of him, me returning home in the evening and resuming my role of taking care of him allowing mom leave for her shift at the hospital. Yes the last few months have been devastating, but better days are ahead for us.
After showering I put on my brown pyjamas and returned to the Parlour and as I passed by I paused as I see a little black gift bag on the table. It looks a little out of place sitting there on the table and I wonder why I didn't it noticed when I passed by earlier. Also mom and dad are the only couples in the house and their anniversary is still a few months away so the only other options is that the gift bag is for me and I begin to wonder brough me a gift and feeling curious a little, I move towards it.
"Michael stopped by," Mom says, clearing my curiosity and I turn away from the bag in disgust to look at her and she continues, "He said he called your phone and you weren't picking up. He wanted to know how you were doing and he also wanted to say hello to your father and I."
"How thoughtful of him then," I sarcastically say with a roll of my eyes.
"Aren't you going to at least take a look at what he brought?"
"No, I'm sure it's filled with shattered hearts and broken promises." I reply, walking towards the kitchen where the dinner is waiting for me.
Mom followed me into the kitchen before speaking in a calm and gently voice, "I know it's been a tough year for you Zarah, but I would want you to consider what you had with him and if you still think it's not worth it you can move on."
I shake my head and take a seat on stool beside the kitchen island where a plate of fried yam and a glass of orange juice is. "I have moved on mom, it's obvious he's the one unwilling to. Gifts can't buy forgiveness and I know he's sorry but that doesn't change what he did not does it stop my heart from aching."
She places a hand on mine and gives it gentle squeeze before speaking. "Alright dear whatever decision you make I will stand beside you, all I want is for you to be happy, you are a great girl and you deserve that." she says before walking out of the kitchen and allowing me eat dinner.
A year ago when I caught Michael cheating on me a few weeks to our wedding, I thought my life would be over. For days I cried myself to sleep and woke up with tears in my eyes. There were also days I wish I didn't wake up, but time passed and with the help and support of my family and good friends, I was able to move on from it.
A few years ago I couldn't imagine a life without Michael in it because he was the love of my life, but now I can't imagine a life with him in it.
They say all things happen for a reason, so I'm glad things happened the way they did, if they didn't I'd still be with a man who didn't think I was enough to make him happy. I'm stronger and wiser, I'm better and I'm willing and ready to move on, and I know it's going to take a while but I'll surely get there.
After dinner I went into my room and did a few run-through of my exam questions and answers and other study related materials before going to bed.
As the sun begins to set, its ray penetrates through my window and it shines on my face and I open my eyes slowly to know that the day has began. I get dressed after shower in a black trouser and red silk top on a red three inch heel, and then applying a moderate make-up on my face, before I make my way out of my room to where mom and dad are having breakfast. Dad is wearing a red t-shirt and a blue Jean and sitting on his wheel chair and mom is wearing a short handed, orange coloured flay gown, reaching her knee, I pause and stare at the two love birds busy smiling at each other while mom served him tea and toasted bread. My heart grow within my chest with hopes that one day, I might have a little of what they have.
"Morning mom, dad." I greet stepping into the dinning room and being noticed by the both of them.
"Morning darling," dad says with a smile two times bigger than any I've ever seen on his face. "how was your night?"
I set my bag down on the table, "It was great dad, how was yours?"
"It was good Zarah."
"Morning dear," mom says before going into the kitchen and I follow her, "Yours coffee is here, you can have it with whatever you want." She informs, pointing to the counter and I walk over there to get my coffee and toast bread.
"Thanks Mom."
We both return from the kitchen and we settle around the dinning table to have our breakfast. Once dad finishes, he wipes his mouth with the napkin and be begins to speak.
"Have you spoken to Sean?"
I nod before adding, "Yes dad, I spoke to him yesterday."
"Is he coming home for the holidays?"
I drop my cup down on the table slowly before replying. "He says he got only 3 weeks break before the next semester begins and he isn't sure that expenses is needed especially now."
Dad nods understandably even though a little pain flashes in his amber coloured eyes, and I know what he's thinking.
We've always spent Christmas together as a family, never apart and even when I moved to live alone, I always came back home and spent the holiday together with my family. So Sean being away for the holiday makes the celebration an incomplete one. I'm not happy about it either, but dad's health issue took all of us by surprise and we spent almost all our savings and income trying to make him better and we are barely seeing Sean through the university as it is. So I understand why Sean will not want to increase our expenses since we are barely standing on two feet now. Dad however is a firm believer of togetherness especially during the holiday and would have done anything to bring Sean back home to be with us and so I understand why these is affecting him this way and even though he tries to hide and conceal it, I know the pain exist.
His voice is low as he speaks, "Oh I understand, but whenever you speak to your brother tell him that he should take care of himself, that I love him and also tell him I'm sorry for letting him down."
I reach over the table and take hold of his cold ones, "There's nothing to be sorry about that and I'll be home today early so we can go have a little fun family time, maybe then I'll call him and we can all talk to him how does that sound like?"
"That would be great, I'll look forward to it. Thank you dear."